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CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2015 Ford Focus & its "Powershift" transmission has a defect trend where the car shudders when accelerating, especially when starting uphill.

Most owners have reported their Ford Focus remains driveable while the vehicle is still at low mileage, but the shuddering is annoying & unpleasant & may reduce the resale value of the vehicle.

However, owners of higher-mileage vehicles from earlier 3rd generation Focus model years report transmission failure & a host of other major & expensive transmission-related problems. Potential buyers beware.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
27,927 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2015 Ford Focus miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2015 Ford Focus Owner Comments (Page 6 of 6)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #8

Aug 212015

Focus

  • 2 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My car shakes terribly when going into and out of first gear. Transmission issue I assume. Bought my car brand new with 2 miles on it in August of 2015. Has been doing this ever since. I get my regular oil changes and drive normally

- Hastings, FL, USA

problem #7

Aug 132016

Focus

  • miles
The sunroof glass exploded, nothing hit it and there were no other vehicles nearby.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #6

Jun 052016

Focus

  • 32,000 miles
Have had my Ford Focus just over 2 months. When I bought it noticed that it seemed to hesitate with acceleration after I come to a complete stop. Took it back to dealer they assured me that they reset my transmission and everything would be fine. It still has been doing it. Have another appointment with dealership to see what my options are. It does well on the highway but on the street or regular traffic it does it every time. It bothers me because ive been almost hit a couple times because it shakes and then goes.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

problem #5

Jul 312016

Focus

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Acceleration issues up acceleration it feels as if the Ford Focus is struggling to accel with worries me since I just bought it no even a week ago. I think Ford needs to check in to the multiple different issues being reported about these cars for being basically brand new I should not have issues on acceleration.

- Watseka, IL, USA

problem #4

Jun 012016

Focus

  • 3,500 miles
A common problem with the front grills coming loos and popping out when driving, creating a safety issue. While the grill is largely cosmetic if it falls out and is run over or hits another vehicle it can pose a safety risk. Noticed this happening on my own car and googled it, hundreds of others have also reported the same issue, no recall or even tsb.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #3

Dec 202015

Focus

  • 5,000 miles
After stopping to get gas on I-80 at a service area in Indiana with the car in park and not running the engine caught on fire. The car is a new vehicle, still under warranty with about 5,000 miles on it. Ford determined that the fire would not be covered by warranty. They offered no proof, and stated that we could not appeal the case.

- Monroe, NY, USA

problem #2

Nov 122015

Focus

  • 120 miles
I bought this car less than 6 mos. Ago. It has had 2 recalls so far. The transmission has a problem. It jumps and acts like it is going to die. Twice when I have started it there was a knocking like the engine had something wrong. When I changed the gear the knocking quit. When I run the heater there is a burning smell. I took it in and told them I was afraid to drive it and they did the recalls then told me they couldn't make it do the other things I had mentioned. I ask them to put me in something else and they said I would have to pay $400-$500 a month payment. I believe Ford knew of this problem but continues to sell them so when people complain they can charge them more money. I am a 55 year old woman that drives 120 miles a day back and forth to work. When I get off work I drive home in the dark. I am afraid to drive this car!!! Ford won't do anything about it! someone is going to get killed in this car because of the engine hesitation. I picked it up and now it is worse! when I turn the corner it does that jerking thing now like it is going to die. I hope you can help protect consumers. The jerking happens when you are driving, taking off and now even when you are turning. The knocking noise the first time was when I was backing up and the second time was when it was in park and I had just started it.

- Lone Oak, TX, USA

problem #1

Jul 272015

Focus

  • 34,000 miles
I was attempting to cross a busy highway. When I accelerated the gas pedal had to be pushed to the floor in order for the vehicle to respond almost causing me to be hit by oncoming traffic. This sluggishness continued as well as hard jolting forward shifts after initial acceleration and eventually a forward jerking loud downshift noise when stopping. These problems continued, vehicle was taken to dealership. They acknowledge it is a transmission problem but refuse to cover it.

- Cantonment, FL, USA

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